whence the Flox followeth.  Whereas a Medicine or two duly administred, may suffice to bring them well forth, and then there needs no more but good ordering, unless perhaps some accident arise, which may require further care.  And here as well as in other Cases, the Patient is to be rectified, who requires the Physicians Visits, and yet dismisseth him without a reward, unless he writes a Bill, whereas it might have been better if nothing at all had been prescribed; and the Physician left to his own judgment; and hence it is that many enlarge their Bills, that the Patient may think he hath enough for his money, whereby the Apothecary is gratified, who ought to commend the Medicines as necessary for the sick person, and singular in themselves, whereas in truth this great farcy proves ungrateful to the tast and stomach; inconvenient to health, by curing one disease, but creating more; and by this means keeping them continually in a way of Physic.

A third abuse of the Apothecaries relates to the prices of their Medicines; first they put what rates they please on their Simples, Compounds, and Receipts, and none are judges of them, but those of their own Trade; insomuch that they gain a 11 d. in the Shilling, if they say true of themselves.  Whereas the Colleges of Physicians beyond Sea, yearly set a tax upon the Simples, and Compounds of the Shops.  So that the Customer can tell the price of what he hath occasion to use, and not stand at the mercy of the Apothecary to rate them as he lists, and to this purpose they put in print the prices of them every year.

Secondly, Suppose a Physician hath prescribed a Pint of Juleb, &c. to be taken at four several times, some Apothecaries carry not the whole pint at once, but divide it into four parts, and carry but one at a time, and so of other Medicines, and then will charge their Bill for every single Potion, or Draught, as they ought the whole Pint; so that by this Art they gain four times as much for the whole Medicine as in Conscience they ought; and a Juleb, which cost them six pence, will be rated at 10, 12, or more Shillings.  But perhaps ’tis fit they should be paid for their created Visits; and for this unnecessary officiousness, persons of great estates may be contented to pay roundly, if they please.

Thirdly, When a Physician hath prescribed 20 Pills, some of the Apothecaries will make 30 of them, under pretence the Patient cannot swallow them else; now reckoning each Pill at a certain rate (as they usually do) they gain a third part more then they ought.

Fourthly, To advance the prices, you shall hardly ever see a Bill without Bezoar, or Pearls in it, to make people think them very chargeable; whereas sometimes there is not above a grain or two of these dear ingredients in the prescription, and a few grains of these or Ambergrise doubles or trebles the prices of the Medicines, and are sure never to be omitted in their Bills, besides the guilding of the Pills, and covering their Bolusses, and Electuaries with Gold (which have only an imaginary and no real use in Medicines so used) much inhanseth their prices, and a rich Cordial inserted exceedingly advanceth most of their Bills; or if China or any other dear ingredient be in the receipt ’tis not omitted.